Numbers 31:50

So we have brought to the LORD an offering of the gold articles each man acquired—armlets, bracelets, rings, earrings, and necklaces—to make atonement for ourselves before the LORD.”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The Israelite commanders address Moses and Eleazar immediately after reporting that not a single soldier under their command was lost. They deliver this statement as the closing act of their military accounting.

The words — The Hebrew verb וַנַּקְרֵב (va.nak.rev) translates literally as "we have brought near," paired with קָרְבָּן (ka.re.ban), meaning "offering." The commanders specify they brought כְלִי (khe.li), "articles," that אִישׁ (ish) מָצָא (ma.tza), "each man found."

The thread — The text directly parallels the census ransom in Exodus 30:12 and Exodus 30:15, where every counted man pays a fixed amount to atone for his life. It also aligns with Leviticus 17:11, which states that the life of the flesh is in the blood and that blood given on the altar makes atonement for the soul.

Why it lands — The verse requires the reader to recognize that survival in battle belongs to God and must be met with a concrete offering. It establishes that material gain from conflict is not personal property but a tool for securing atonement before the LORD.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וַנַּקְרֵ֞בva./nak.Revand/ we have brought near אֶת־'et-<obj.>קָרְבַּ֣ןka.re.Ban[the] offering of יְהוָ֗הYah.wehYahweh אִישׁ֩'isheveryone אֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.Sher[that] which מָצָ֤אma.Tza'he found כְלִֽי־khe.li-an article of זָהָב֙za.Havgold אֶצְעָדָ֣ה'etz.'a.Dahan armlet וְצָמִ֔ידve./tza.Midand/ a bracelet טַבַּ֖עַתta.Ba.'ata signet-ring עָגִ֣יל'a.Gilan earring וְכוּמָ֑זve./khu.Mazand/ an ornament לְכַפֵּ֥רle./kha.Perto/ make atonement עַל־'al-on נַפְשֹׁתֵ֖ינוּnaf.sho.Tei./nuselves/ our לִפְנֵ֥יli/f.Nei<to>/ before יְהוָֽה׃Yah.wehYahweh

King James Version

We have therefore brought an oblation for the Lord, what every man hath gotten, of jewels of gold, chains, and bracelets, rings, earrings, and tablets, to make an atonement for our souls before the Lord.

Cross-references

Exodus 30:12 “When you take a census of the Israelites to number them, each man must pay the LORD a ransom for his life when he is counted. Then no plague will come upon them when they are numbered.
Exodus 30:15 In making the offering to the LORD to atone for your lives, the rich shall not give more than a half shekel, nor shall the poor give less.
Leviticus 17:11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for your souls upon the altar; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.
Psalms 107:15 Let them give thanks to the LORD for His loving devotion and His wonders to the sons of men.
Psalms 107:21 Let them give thanks to the LORD for His loving devotion and His wonders to the sons of men.
Psalms 116:12 How can I repay the LORD for all His goodness to me?
Psalms 116:17 I will offer to You a sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the LORD.